Clear vision screen



Feb 25 1935- J. R. olsHEl E1' AL CLEAR VI S ION SCREEN 3 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed Oct. 19, 1951' Jahn 0mm, 'arlaal,

INVENTORS B99291935. g, 0.5m Em y 1,992,629

CLEAR VISION SCREEN Filed Oct. 19, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Y I*LLW'ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 26, 1935 UNITED 'STATES .Prin-:NTV OFFICECLEAR VISION SCREEN John R. Oishei and Earl V. Schaal, Buffalo, N. Y.,islsignors to Trico Products Corporation, Bufa o, N. Y.

Application October 19, 1931, Serial No. '569,794

17 Claims. (Cl. 219-19) This invention relates to vehicle accessoriesFig. 9 is a plan sectional view taken along line adapted to maintain thewindshields of vehicles IX-IX of Fig. 3. free of snow, ice, sleet andthe like and has par- As shown in Fig. 1, the device includes theticular relation to that class of devices in which transparent plate 15,having a resilient frame or a transparent plate is provided, in slightlyspaced border 16, connected by supporting mechanism 5 relation to asurface of a windshield, to form an 17 to a header bar 18 or other partof a vehicle air space in the transparency between the atabove thewindshield 19, heating elements 21 exmospheres of the-outside and theinterior of a tending across the plate and in electrical circuit,vehicle. Electrical heating units are conventionthrough the supportingmechanism, with wires l0 ally carried by such devices, being disposedwith- 22 and 23 which extend to a suitable source of 10 in the airspace, for heating the windshield to electrical energy. prevent theaccumulation of `frozen moisture The plate is of generally rectangularform thereon. and seats within a recess extending about the Theinvention has for its object to provide a continuous frame 16, thelatter preferably being l5 practical and efficient device in the natureof an formed of soft, resilient insulating materiabas 15'v auxiliarytransparency for effectively maintaining rubber, having a forwardlyextending ange 25 the field of vision free of frost, sleet and otheradapted for intimate contact with a surface of beclouding matter, andfurther to provide a dethe windshield glass 19 for closing the space 26`vice of this character, simplified in construction between the glass andthe plate l5. In each side and one which may readily be positionedagainst portion of the frame is embedded a combined 20v thewindshield'in an expeditious manner. reinforcing and current conductingplate 27, hav- These and other objects and advantages, ining nS 28 fOrpositively engaging the material cluding those arising from the novelrelatiorship Vof the frame, andprotuberances 29 extending into andformation of the component parts of the dethe space 26 for supportingthe heating elements vice, which render it eflicient and economical in2l. Ears 31 on the plates 27 Overle Similarly 25 use and in production,will become apparent from shaped ears 32 formed o n the frame 16,apertures the following description of one typical embodiextendingthrough the ears for receiving bolts 33. ment of the'invention,reference being made to A pair of supporting arms 34 and 35 are entheaccompanying drawings, wherein: gaged with each of the bolts 33, theanns 34 each Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of the comhaving at oneend an aperture 36` receiving one 30 plete device, depicted as in itsoperative posisuch bolt, and being pivoted at 37, adjacent the tion,mounted upon an automotive vehicle; opposite end, to an angle bracket 38which may Fig. 2 is a fragmentary front elevation of the be anixed tosome portion of the vehicle above left hand portion of the devicedepicted in Fig. 1, the windshield, as the header bar 18 of theillusparts of the device being broken away and other tration. The arms35 each have an elongated slot portions appearing in section; 39adjacent one end for receiving one of the bolts Fig. 3 is a sideelevation depicting, in full lines, 33, the portions of each armadjacent the slot the normaloperative position of the device relabeingpreferably roughened or serrated, as inditive to the vehicle windshield,and the broken cated at 41, for engagement with a compressible 40 linesindicating the inoperative position of the Washer 42 carried by thebolt. The opposite ends 40 device; of the arms 35 have openings'forjournalling an Fig. 4' is a section taken along line IV-IV of eccentricmember 42 lcarried by each bracket 38. Fig. 3; The member 42 has a shank43, non-circular Fig. 5 Ais a detail perspective of the eccentric and,threaded at one end, journalled in a bushing element shown in Fig. 4; l44 carried by each angle bracket 38 in spaced re- 45 Fig. 6 is avertical sectional view illustrating .lation to the pivot point 37.Theopposite end the circuit breaking means associated with the of eachshank has an eccentric pivoted portion supporting mechanism; 45 whichpivotally engages an arm 35. A tight- Fig. 7 is a perspective view ofone of the plates enng and locking lever 46 is fitted to the nonwhichsupport the heating elements and connect circular end of the shank andis retained thereon 50 the transparent plate unit to the supporting by anut 47 threaded to the shank. At the free mechanism; end of the lever isa handle portion 48 adapted to Fig. 8 is a perspective vieuI of thesupporting abut the arm 35. f mechanism containing the circuit breakingThe plate 15 may be raised from the operative means; and, position shownin full lines to the inoperative. 65

dotted line position of Fig. 3, adjacent the ceiling, by loosening thewing nuts 49 on the bolts 33 to allow the serrated surfaces of the arms35 to disengage the compressible washers 42; and

by then lifting the plate to bring the arms 34 and 35 to a substantiallyhorizontal position. During this movement the bolts 33 will move in theslots 39 of arms 35. The device may be retained in inoperative or raisedposition by tightening the wing nuts to cause the serrated portions ofthe arms to grip the compressible washers. To return the device to-normal position, the locking or wing nuts are again loosened, and theplate lowered to contact the flanges 25 of the frame with the windshieldglass, and the nuts 49 again tightened. A

During the latter operations the levers 46 are retained in their raisedor dotted line positions of Fig. 3 in which the eccentric pintles 45 areabove the axes of the shanks 43. The levers may then be rotated to pressthe portions 48 thereof into contact with the arms 35, thus loweringthe. pintles 45.and causing the frame 16 to be moved toward and pressedinto more intimate contact with the windshield glass. The movement ofthe lever will thus compress the flange 26 of the The wire 22, as shownin Figs. 1` and 3, is connected to the left bracket 38 and therefore iselectrically connected through left arm 34 (or 35), bolt 33, and leftplate 27 with one end of the electricalheating means 21, which maycomprise one or more strands of wire of high electrical resistance. Theother wire 23 is connected to a plate 51 secured to the right bracket38, as the device is viewed in Fig. 1, being insulated therefrom by aninsulating plate and bushings 52 and 53, respectively. A spring contactfinger 54 on the plate 51 engages a contact protuberance 55 on the rightarm 34 when the latter is in operative position, the protuberance 55being removed from the finger 54 as the device is moved to raised orinoperative position. The right arms 34 and 35 are electricallyinsulated from the bracket 38 by insulated washers 56, shown in Figs. 6

and 8, the rivet 57, comprising the right pivot 37 being insulated fromthe. bracket 38 by an insulated bushing 58. The left arms may likewisebe insulated from their bracket 38, if de sired. When the parts are inthe positions of Figs. 1 and 3, it will therefore be understood that thewire 23 will be in circuit with one end' of the electrical heating means21 through plate 51, finger 54, right arm 34, bolt 33, ear 31, and plate27, and that When-the device is in raised or inoperative position, theelectrical circuit will be automatically broken.

It will further be understood that the device herein described andillustrated is merely exemplary of the principles of the invention,which may be applied to other devices having other arrangements andconformations of parts, all within the purview of this invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In an electrical heating device for vehicle windshields, a continuousflexible frame for contact with a windshield, a transparent plateengaged about its periphery by said frame, reinforcing plates embeddedin said frame adjacent edge portions of the transparent plate,electrical heating elements connecting said reinforcing plates andextending across the transparent plate, and ears formed on saidreinforcing plates for attachment to means for supporting said frame.

2. In an electrical heating devicel for vehicle windshields, acontinuous ilexible frame having a groove extending therearound, atransparent plate within the confines of said frame and having itsperipheral portions seated in said groove, said frame having acontinuous forwardly extending ange for contact with the windshield tospace the plate from said windshield, a pair of reinforcing platesdisposed at opposite sides of said frame, each of said reinforcingplates having portions embedded in said frame and protuberancesextending into the space between the transparent plate and thewindshield, heating elements attached to said protuberances andextending into said space, and sid reinforcing plates having ears forattaching means for supporting the frame upon the vehicle.

3. In an electric heating device for a vehicle windshield, adapted forsupport from a portion of the vehicle adjacent the windshield, a pair ofarms pivoted at one end on parallel laxes to said portion of thevehicle, the opposite end of one of said arms having an aperture forpassing a fastener, an electrical heating element having a fastenerjournalled in said aperture, the opposite of the vehicle adjacent thewindshield, a flexible frame for contact with a windshield, atransparent plate engaged about its periphery by said frame, reinforcingplates embedded in said frame at opposite sides thereof, an electricalheating element connecting said reinforcing plates and extending acrossthe transparent plates. an ear formed on each of said reinforcingplates, a pair of arms adjacent each ear, one of each pair of arms beingpivoted to an ear and the other of each pair of arms being connectedtothe flrst'mentioned arm of the pair for pivotal and longitudinalmovement relative thereto, bracket means on said portion of the vehicle,each of said arms being pivoted to said bracket means, the arms of eachpair being pivoted onparallel axes, one pair of ,arms being electricallyinsulated from the other pair of arms at the bracket means, andelectrically connected through said reinforcing plates and electricalheating element.

5. In a vehicle accessory,.a bracket for attachment `to a vehicle, amovable member, an Varm pivoted at one end to the bracket and at theopposite end to said movable member, a second arm pivoted adjacent oneend to said movable member, the pivot pointaof the latter pivotconnection being adjustable to vary the effective length of said secondarm, the other end of said second arm being pivoted to aneccentricmember, an eccentric portion of the latter being pivoted tosaid bracket.

6. In a vehicle, accessory', a bracket for .attachment to a vehicle, amovable member, an arm pivoted Aat one ,end to the bracket and connectedat the opposite 'fend to the movable membena second arm, pivotmeansconnecting the second arm said pivot means comprising a pivoted memberhaving an eccentric portion pivoted to the second arm, whereby movementof said pivoted member about its pivot will vary the effective length ofsaid second arm to effect movement of said movable member.

7. In an electric heating device for a vehicle windshield adapted forsupport from a portion of the vehicle adjacent the windshield, aflexible frame having a forwardly extending portion for contact with awindshield, a transparent plate engaged about its periphery by saidframe, said plate being spaced from the Windshield by said forwardlyextending portion, an electrical heat-, ing element extending betweenthe windshield and said plate, an arm on each side of the frame pivotedat one end to the frame by means serving to electrically connect eacharm with one end of the heating element, the opposite end of each armbeing pivoted to supporting bracket means on said portion of thevehicle, an eccentric member pivoted to said supporting bracket meansadjacent to each of said arms, and a second arm pivoted to each of theeccentric members, the opposite ends of the second arms having slidableand rotatable connections to the first mentioned arms adjacent saidmeans for electrically connecting the first mentioned arms and theheating element, whereby the frame may be swung into adjacency with oraway from the windshield, and a switch arm for contacting one of saidarms when the frame is in adjacency with the windshield.

8. In an accessory for a vehicle windshield and adapted for support froma portion of the vehicle "adjacent, the windshield, a pair of armspivoted at one end on parallel axes to said portion of the vehicle, aframe pivoted to the opposite end of one of said arms, the opposite endof the other of said arms being slidably and pivotally connected to saidopposite end of the first mentioned one of said arms.

9. In a vehicle accessory, a bracket for attachment to a vehicle, amovable member and means for pivotally connecting it to said bracketincluding an arm, pivot means at one end of the arm for connecting it tosaid bracket and pivot means at the other end of said arm for connectingit to said movable member, one of said pivot means comprising a pivotedniember having an eccentric portion pivoted to said arm.

l0. Means for supporting a vehicle accessory adjacent a vehicle,comprising a pair of relatively movable members, an eccentricl memberhaving a part pivoted to one or" said first mentioned members and aneccentric part pivoted to the other one of said rst mentioned members,and an arm nxed against rotation to said eccentric member, said armhaving a portion for abutment with one of said first mentioned membersto limit the pivotal movement of said eccentric member relative to saidfirst mentioned members.

ll. An auxiliary window for use against a windshield to define a fieldof vision, and having a frame, means supporting the frame against thewindshield, and a pressure applying member having one section pivotallymounted at one end to the frame and a companion sectionpivotallylmounted to a fixed part of the motor vehicle, said companionsection having a part off center pivotally connected to the opposite endof the first section and movable across aline joining the pivotalmounting axes of said sections to lock the pressure applying member inan operative position.

12. Means for supporting a transparent plate having a flexible framethereabout, comprising a pair of stress distributing plates adapted tobe Cil embedded in said frame at opposite sides therel of, each platehaving two bars associated therewith, a common pivot connecting one endof each of the two bars to the plate, bracket means pivotally connectingon spaced pivots the other ends of the two bars, one of said two barsbeing of xed length, and the other of said two bars having meansassociated therewith for varying the effective length thereof.

13. In a vehicle windshield accessory adapted for support from a portionof the vehicle adjacent the windshield, a flexible frame for contactwith a windshield, a transparent pane engaged about its periphery bysaid frame, plates embedded in said `frame at opposite ends thereof forreinforcing the frame, each plate having a supporting ear, bracket meanson said portion of the vehicle, a pair of arms adjacent each ear, onearm of said pair being pivoted at one end to the ear and at the'opposite end to said bracket means, and the other arm of said pairbeing pivoted at one end to the bracket means on an axis parallel to therst mentioned pivot to the bracket means and at the other end beingconnected to the first mentioned arm of the pair for relative pivotaland longitudinal movement.

14. In an electrical heating device for a vehicle windshield, acontinuous flexible and electrically insulating frame having a grooveextending therearound, a transparent pane within said frame and havingits peripheral portions seated in said groove, said frame serving tospace the pane from the windshield, a plate disposed at each of twoopposite sides of said frame and extending along the frame forreinforcing it, each plate having protuberances extending into the spacebetween the pane and windshield, and a heating element extending acrosssaid space and connecting the protuberances of the opposed plates.

l5. In an electrical heating device for a vehicle Windshield, a flexibleand electrically insulating frame, a transparent pane engaged about itsperiphery by said frame, reinforcing plates embedded in the frame atsubstantially opposite sides thereof, a heating element extendingbetween the plates in substantial parallelism with the pane, said plateshaving protuberances extending beyond theinner surface of the frame forconnection with the heating element and ears disposed outwardly of theouter surface of the frame for connection to means for supporting andsupplying electrical energy to the device.

16. In an electrical heating device for a vehicle windshield, a pair ofmetallic arms connected to a portion of the vehicle and extending intoadjacency with the windshield, aF transparent pane and a fiexible frameextending therearound, metallic plates embedded at opposite ends of theframe for reinforcing said frame, each of said plates having an earextending beyond the surface of the frame and connected to one of saidarms, an electrical heating element extending between said plates andbetween the pane and windshield, and means for connecting said arms to asource of electrical energy, said arms being electrically connected viathe plates and heating element.

17. In a device for vehicle windshields, a flexible frame of generallyoblong form, a transparent pane engaged about its periphery by saidframe and spaced from the windshield by said frame, the frame atopposite ends having ears formed thereon, a substantially rigid plateernbedded in each of said opposite ends and extending therealong forreinforcing said ends and adjacent portions of the frame, and each platehaving a portion extending beyond the surface of the frame and lyingalong the surface of the adjacent ear, said ears and portions of theplates having openings therethrough for attaching means for supportingthe device.

JOHN R. OISH'EI. EARL V. SCHAAL.

